POTENTIALS OF CULTURE-BASED FISHERIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is often referred to as the "land of aquatic splendor" due to the abundance of water bodies. However, due to poor catches from capture fisheries and unfavorable economic realities for aquaculture, providing fish for the country's growing population has been a major challenge. To surmount this challenge, strategies that are less resource-intensive, and relatively easy to transfer and adapt technically have to be developed. One such strategy is to practice culture-based fisheries (CBF) in Nigeria. Culture-based fisheries are essentially a type of extensive aquaculture that takes place in small bodies of water that would not be able to support a subsistence fishery due to a lack of adequate natural recruitment of suitable species. This review provides an overview of CBF. The primary criteria for selecting water bodies for CBF are also discussed. The paper concludes with a presentation of Nigeria's numerous water resources that support CBF development. The sustainable practice of CBF will ensure a consistent supply of diverse fish species to meet Nigerian fish consumer preferences and fish demand.